Hong Kong ranked world's most competitive economy
Hong Kong reclaimed the title of the world's most competitive economy, moving up from second place last year, according to the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) World Competitiveness Yearbook 2016. The IMD also recognized Hong Kong for its consistent commitment to providing a favorable business environment, encouragement of innovation through low and simple taxation, free flow of capital, and role as a gateway between the Mainland and the global capital markets. Details here.

Hong Kong's Advantages in Belt and Road Initiatives
Hong Kong, with its unique advantages, can make an important contribution to the Belt & Road initiatives - a visionary, long-term initiative launched by the Chinese government to foster closer economic, political, cultural, and social links across Asia to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. As a "superconnector" and an international trade and business center, Hong Kong can leverage its strengths in financial and professional services, transport and logistics, legal services and dispute resolution. For more information on Hong Kong's advantages, click here.

Safeguard HK App
For travelers and students outside Hong Kong, you would find the new app "Safeguard HK" useful. It provides useful information on safety and assistance in handling emergencies that may occur during travels outside of Hong Kong, e.g. major emergency incidents happening around the world, outbound travel alerts, contact information for Chinese consulates in host countries, etc. 
The app is available for free from Google Play and Apple App Store.
For more information: http://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/news/mobileapp/index.htm

Hong Kong Welcomes U
The HKETONY will host a number of talks at East Coast universities this week to promote the various measures to facilitate talent and the second generation of Hong Kong emigrants to work or live in the city. Three immigration officers from Hong Kong will be on hand to answer questions from interested undergraduates, post-graduates and young professionals on these immigration programs.
The schedule can be found here.

Dragons awakened for New York festival
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay and guests officiated at a dragon boat eye-dotting ceremony in Central Park on July 14 and rang the New York Stock Exchange closing bell on July 28 to usher in the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York. Details here.

Director visits Maryland to highlight art and business opportunities
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay spoke about the numerous job and study opportunities in Hong Kong, resulting from the many arts and culture developments that have occurred in recent years, during a visit to Maryland on July 27. Details here.

Mabel Cheung and Alex Law in New York on Film Based on True Story
Multi-award winning director and screenwriter duo Mabel Cheung and Alex Law were in New York to attend a special screening of “A Tale of Three Cities” (2015). Sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York, the screening at Village Cinema East on July 23 was the centerpiece presentation of the 2016 Asian American International Film Festival. Based on the story of the parents of Jackie Chan, the film features Sean Lau and Tang Wei in the leading roles set against the war-torn years from the 1930s to the 1940s. Screenwriter Alex Law said that one of the themes of the film is the pursuit of love at times of turbulence, adversity and vagrantness, which echoes with the recent refugee crisis in Europe. Details here.

New York Hosts Preview Screening of “Happiness” to Honour Kara Wai
Multiple Best Actress awardee Kara Wai received the Asian CineVision (ACV) 2016 Asian Media Humanitarian Award in New York on July 19 for her efforts in promoting elderly care and raising public awareness of it. The award was given before a screening of her film “Happiness” (2016) at the Asia Society. She and co-star Carlos Chan also met the audience after the preview screening, hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York, in partnership with ACV. ACV is the organizer of the 39th Asian American International Film Festival. This is the first time the two film talents have attended a New York film festival. Details here.

HKETONY's rugby tourney hits record numbers
Presented by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) for the first time, the 2016 Hell Gate Sevens Rugby Tournament drew to a successful close at Randall’s Island on July 9, with a record 60 teams participating from cities on the East Coast. Details here.

'Real Yip Man' explained at New York museum lecture
New York’s Museum of the Moving Image’s ongoing “Fist and Sword” series presented a talk titled “Ip Man (also known as Yip Man) Fact & Fiction: Creating the Legend of Bruce Lee’s Teacher” on July 8. Details here.

HKETONY director fosters ties with Atlanta
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay visited Atlanta on July 6-8 to promote business and cultural ties between Hong Kong and the Peach State. Details here.

Filmmaker Wong recalls journey from Hong Kong to Iowa and back
Hong Kong film director Adam Wong was the guest speaker at a workshop held at the New York Film Academy on June 30, where he told young aspiring filmmakers to hold onto their dreams, recounting what had inspired him to land “Best New Director” awards in 2014. Mr. Wong was visiting New York at the invitation of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York. The office had screened Mr. Wong’s breakthrough film, “The Way We Dance,” in New York and Boston in 2013. His film "She Remembers, He Forgets" was screened at the New York Asian Film Festival. Details here.

Actress Yeung wins "Star Asia Award" at New York festival
Hong Kong actress Miriam Yeung received the prestigious New York Asian Film Festival "Star Asia Award" before the screening of her film “She Remembers, He Forgets” on June 29. The award was presented to Ms. Yeung in recognition of her charismatic girl-next-door persona that epitomizes the anything-is-possible spirit of Hong Kong. “She Remembers, He Forgets” was screened as part of Hong Kong Panorama, a showcase of nine distinguished Hong Kong films in New York sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York. Details here.

HKETONY arts fellows showcase talent
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York Steve Barclay congratulated the HKETONY Arts Fellows, visual artist Parry Ling and contemporary dancer Hao Yang, on their respective showcase events at the International Festival of Arts & Ideas in New Haven in June. The exhibition and dance performance were the culmination of an arts fellowship that started in 2014. Details here.

Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago celebrate dragon boat festivals
Paddlers, in synchronized fashion, raced toward the finishing line at dragon boat races held in Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago in June to celebrate the traditional dragon boat festival. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York was the sponsor of the three races. Details here.

Chief Secretary visits New York City
Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam visited New York June 9-10 to update stakeholders on the political and economic landscape of Hong Kong, establish ties with arts and cultural institutions and promote the city’s immigration measures to attract talent. New York was the last leg of the Chief Secretary’s three-city visit to the US, after San Francisco and Washington, DC Details here.

HKETONY sponsors highly visible college rugby championship
The Collegiate Rugby Championship in Philadelphia on June 4-5 culminated in the fourth straight victory for the CAL Golden Bears from California, led by their captain, Hong Kong-born Russell Webb. On the women’s side, Life U overtook Lindenwood 19-10. The 2016 Collegiate Rugby Championship at Talen Energy Stadium drew a record 27,000 athletes, fans and spectators from across the US and aired nationally on NBC and NBCSN. This marks the first time Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) sponsored the event. Earlier, on June 2, HKETONY hosted an evening reception for more than 180 rugby players hailing from 24 colleges and more than 20 states. Details here.

HKETONY director explores ties with Philadelphia
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay traveled to Philadelphia on June 3 for a duty visit, where he met with Mayor Jim Kenney and discussed fostering closer business and cultural ties between Asia’s World City and the City of Brotherly Love. Details here.

Chicago gala pays tribute to Yau's film career
Award-winning Hong Kong director Herman Yau received Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s inaugural Pinnacle Award on May 20 in the Windy City, in recognition of an impressive career that has spanned three decades. The award ceremony was followed by a screening of his film “Ip Man: The Final Fight”. Details here.

HKETONY director renews ties in Midwest
Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Steve Barclay met with business and political leaders during his duty visit to the Midwestern states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois in mid-May. Details here.

Old Master Q, Fung Wan piqué interest in Hong Kong comics
Both speakers at a comics discussion on May 24 agreed that Hong Kong comics unleashed the artists’ creativity as far as it could get, tracing classic creations from the 1960s, “Old Master Q” by Alfonso Wong and “13 dots” by Lee Wai Chun, to the ’90s popular kung fu comic “Fung Wan” by Ma Wing-shing, a painter by training. The guest speakers were Connie Lam, HKETONY-Asian Cultural Council fellow and Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Centre, and Professor John Lent of Temple University, founder of the International Journal of Comic Art and author of a four-volume bibliography of comic art and books. Details here.

HKETONY director visits southeast United States
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay traveled to the southeastern states of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina from April 26-28 to highlight business opportunities and areas of mutual cooperation with local government and business leaders. Details here.

NYC festival shines light on Hong Kong's emerging filmmakers
New York City’s first Hong Kong Contemporary Film Festival was held from April 22-24 with the aim of engaging overseas audiences in rediscovering Hong Kong through the works of a younger generation of filmmakers. Details here.

Hong Kong classics featured at Kung Fu Fest in New York City
The sixth annual Old School Kung Fu Fest, organized by Subway Cinema and held on April 8-10, featured eight films produced by Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest studio, the first time the three-day festival exclusively featured Hong Kong kung fu classics. Details here.

Hong Kong Ballet debuts to packed house in NYC
The Hong Kong Ballet made its debut at New York’s Joyce Theater to a full house on March 15. The opening-night performance featured works of esteemed choreographers: “A Room of Her Own” by Fei Bo, resident choreographer of the National Ballet of China; “Castrati” by world-renowned Spanish choreographer Nacho Duato; and “In Light and Shadow” by Krzysztof Pastor, director of the National Polish Ballet. Details here.

Women's Commission Chair gives briefing in New York
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay (third from left) welcomed Stella Lau (second from left), Chairperson of Hong Kong Women’s Commission, and guests from New York’s academic, business, education and non-governmental organization sectors to a breakfast briefing session at the HKETONY office on March 15. Mrs. Lau gave an update on the recent developments on women’s issues in Hong Kong, including the latest relevant government initiatives. Details here.

'Reunification' documentary makes East Coast premiere
Hong Kong-born filmmaker Alvin Tsang introduced his autobiographical documentary "Reunification" to the media at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York on March 10. The documentary had its East Coast premiere at the Queens World Film Festival on March 17. Mr. Tsang’s first feature-length documentary, "Reunification" gives an insider’s view of the contemporary Asian immigrant experience. Details here.

Series of East Coast college talks aims to attract U.S. talent
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) hosted a series of “HK Welcomes U” roving talks at eight colleges on the East Coast, including Ivy League universities, to promote various measures for attracting U.S. talent to work and live in Hong Kong. The roving talks were held at Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, New York University, Yale University, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University from February 29 through March 3. Details here.

HKETONY arts fellows start exchange at Yale
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY) hosted a reception on February 17 to welcome two outstanding Hong Kong artists, Phoebe Hui and Ying Cai, who are recipients of this year’s "HKETONY Arts Fellows of the Yale-China Arts Fellowship" program. Hui, an interdisciplinary artist, and Cai, a dancer, will join a six-month residency program in New Haven, Conn. They will have the opportunity to learn from practicing artists and professors at Yale University and in the greater New Haven area, and develop their own projects to be premiered at the 2017 International Festival of Arts & Ideas. Details here.

Hong Kong designers, brands hit New York Fashion Week
Three leading Hong Kong fashion designers took part in New York Fashion Week in February, showcasing the city’s fashion creativity to the New York and global audience. Harrison Wong, Hidy Ng and Polly Ho launched their Fall/Winter 2016 collections to a packed audience of industry representatives, buyers, media and fashion followers at the catwalk show at Moynihan Station in New York City. This marks the first time in 12 years that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has sent local designers to take part in New York Fashion Week. Details here.

Hong Kong's fundamentals remain sound and robust
Despite the challenging and volatile international business environment in 2015, Hong Kong's trade ties with the United States have remained close and the city's fundamentals stay robust, said Hong Kong Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, Clement Leung, at a Chinese New Year reception of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), in Harvard Club on February 9. More than 350 guests comprised of business and government leaders attended the event, featuring a lion dance, jazz performances by Hong Kong native, jazz guitarist and composer Alan Kwan, and artwork by Hong Kong illustrator Phoenix Chan. Details here.

Hong Kong’s drive for technology and start-ups
In a recent talk on Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development in HKETONY office, the Chief Commercial Officer of HK Science and Technology Parks Corporation Andrew Young outlined the many exciting opportunities in the city brought by technology-led innovations in the past few years and introduced a few funds set up to encourage start-ups and transferring university research outcomes to commercial and licensed products. Details here.

Acting director calls on Mississippi governor
Acting Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York, Michael Kwan paid a courtesy call on Governor Phil Bryant on January 11 and attended the inaugural ceremony for Gov. Bryant, who was sworn-in for a second term as Mississippi’s 64th Governor. Details here.

First reunion
The first "Hong Kong Night" was a trip down the memory lane for most of the 30 former Hong Kong-based correspondents who joined the reunion at the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) on Dec 8. Details here.

HKETONY promotes 'super-connector' role in Iowa and Missouri
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York Steve Barclay traveled to Missouri and Iowa in mid-November, making his first official visit to each state. The visits were a collaborative exchange to explore how Hong Kong could help enterprises in both states expand business to China and the rest of the Asia Pacific region. Details here.

Director addresses 'Taste of Business' in Maryland
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York Steve Barclay spoke at the "Taste of Business" event organized by Maryland’s World Trade Center Institute on November 3. He highlighted Hong Kong’s latest developments, its competitiveness as well as trade opportunities for Maryland’s business community. Details here.

Hong Kong trade promoted at N.J. business conference
New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno praised Hong Kong for its ease of doing business and being the gateway to China at a recent business forum. At the same MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce 2015 International Business Conference in Ewing Township, N.J., on October 13, Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York Steve Barclay called on New Jersey businesses to take advantage of Hong Kong’s strategic geographical location, sound financial infrastructure and regulatory regime, and wealth of experience in being the first mover to expand its reach in Asia and mainland China. Details here.

Inaugural Chicago film series features Hong Kong movies
The inaugural Asian Pop-Up Cinema Series in Chicago, featuring two Hong Kong movies, was listed as one of the top film events this fall by Crains's Chicago. Speaking at the opening night reception, Deputy Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York Michael Kwan said the Hong Kong government is committed to supporting the territory’s film industry. Details here.

Fashion Guerilla New York, Presented by Fashion Farm Foundation, Showcases Creativity of 10 Emerging Hong Kong Labels at New York Fashion Week
Four Hong Kong fashion labels DAYDREAM NATION, METHODOLOGY, PLACED by GIDEON and INJURY, showcased their womenswear and menswear collections on the runway on September 15, 2015 at Pop 14, one of the most popular areas in New York City. Organized by the Fashion Farm Foundation (FFF), the fashion show was part of Fashion Guerilla New York, an overseas project fully sponsored by the Hong Kong government, to promote Hong Kong-based designer brands to the overseas market. Details here.

Atlanta dragon boat festival celebrates 20 year anniversary
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in Atlanta celebrated its 20th anniversary at the Lake Lanier Olympic Venue on September 12, with more than 8,000 athletes and visitors enjoying a fun-filled Saturday. More than 70 teams, from Georgia as well as the neighboring states of South Carolina, Florida and Alabama, took part in the races. Details here.

HK Dragon Boat Festival radiates from New York on its 25th Anniversary
The silver jubilee of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York is celebrated with the opening bell ringing at the New York Stock Exchange and the dragon boat awakening ceremony in Times Square in July, followed by festive color lighting at the Empire State Building in Manhattan on August 8. Sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY), the annual festival registered a record number of 206 teams competing for various trophies in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on August 8 and 9. Details here.

Director promotes Hong Kong in Four States
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay visited four states - Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana - between August 24-27, calling on government officials and business and academic leaders, to update them on the latest developments in Hong Kong and to strengthen business and trade relations between Hong Kong and the respective states. Details here.

NYSE Bell Rings for Dragon Boat Festival
Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in New York (HKETONY) Steve Barclay joins Chairman of Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New York (HKDBF-NY) Henry Wan to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on July 27 morning, ushering in the festive event to be held in Flushing Meadows Park on August 8 and 9. Details here.

Asian American International Film Festival Opens with “My Voice, My Life”
The 38th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) kicked off on July 23 to a packed house with the opening night screening of "opening night screening of Oscar-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang's latest documentary “My Voice, My Life”, which chronicles the lives of a group of misfit high school students from Hong Kong cast together for a musical theater performance. Ms. Yang and two of the film’s cast members, Coby Wong and Sio Fan Lam attended the opening gala and screening. Details here.

Trio of Hong Kong musicians make Carnegie Hall debut
Hong Kong pianists Yue Zhang and Shing Lee and violinist Jeremy Hao made their debut at New York City’s Carnegie Hall on July 11. Mr. Zhang and Mr. Hao were the two grand-prize winners of the Hong Kong Generation Next Arts (HKGNA) 2014 Music Competition. Mr. Lee was presented with HKGNA’s Musical Angel award. They performed a repertoire ranging from Brahms and Schubert to Piazzolla and Marc-Andre Hamlin at the Weill Recital Hall. Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY) hosted a welcome reception for the three musicians and HKGNA founder Michelle Kim on July 9. Details here.

The Basic Law inspires creative art pieces
Twenty five innovative artwork pieces by students of the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) are currently on display at the roving "Discover the Basic Law" exhibition. The art works include illustrations, typographic design, sculptures, motion graphics as well as interactive installations. Details Here.